Ration



H. E. MURRAY.

SPARK lNTENSlFIER FOR IGNITION PLUGS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1920.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

,QUNITED s'ra'rss PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. MURRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MURRAY-DAYTON CORPO- RATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SPARK INTENSIFIER FOR IGNITION PLUGS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 14,

Application filed January 12, 1920. Serial No. 350,825.

To (all whom it may concern.

Be it knownthat I, HARRY E. MURRAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark Intensifiers lor Ignition Plugs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters "of reference marked thereon. which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in spark intensifiers for ignition plugs and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a small, simple and e'tlicient device, which may be quickly attached between a spark plug and its current conductor, oi? an engine ignition system, which device will, act to intensity the heat of the spark at the gap between the electrodes ot' the spark plug, by transforming said spark from the ordinary faint red flame, to a hot, blue-white flame or flash, that insures the positive and entire combustion of the explosive mixture, no matter What gravity fuel is used in the operation of the engine.

This object as well as the many advantages of the invention will more fully appear as I proceed with my specificathm.

- In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an ignition or spark plug to which my improved spark intensifier has been attached.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of my intensifier;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the intensifier, on an enlarged scale, the plane of the section being taken on the line 83 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the'-same,'the plane 01 the section being taken on the line -:it of Fig.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the top member of the insulation base.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the inter: mediate member of the insulation base.

Figure 7 is a top plan View of the bottom member of the said base.

Figure 8 is a perspective view o l a cage embodied in my improved intensifier; and

Figure 9 is a top plan viewgof one of a pair of electrodes embodied in my improved intensifier.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 15 indicates as a Whole, the insulation base or block of my improved spark intensifier. Preferably, said block is built up from a plurality of similarly shaped, superposed plates or sections of fibre each o'l which as shown in this instance, includes anelliptical body with diametrically opposite, smaller, rounded extensions.

16 indicates the bottom plate, 17 the intermediate plate and 18 the top plate, the bottom plate being thicker than the intermediate and top plates. In the rounded extension of said plates are provided holes 16% 1'7 and 1.8 respectively, which in the assembly of the intensifier, register with each other and through said registering holes'is inserted a tubular rivet or eyelet 19, to secure said plates together to provide the block 15 as a whole.

In the top surface of the bottom plate or section 16, at its center, is provided an annular groove 20, which by means of diametrically opposite, longitudinal grooves 21, connects with annular recesses 22, formed in the rounded extensions, about the holes 16. In said grooves are placed metallic electrode members 23, one of which is shown in Fig. 9. Each electrode includes an annular head 24, which seats in the recess 22 and surrounds and engages the eyelets 19, so as to have contact therewith; a neck 25 which seats in the grooves 2.1; and a semi-annular or halt-ring like electrode proper 26, which seats in the annular groove 20. This electrode member is made of non-corrosive metal and the ends oi? the electrode proper 26, are spaced from each other in the groove 20 to provide diametrically opposite sparking gaps 27 as shown in Fig. 4;;

The ii'itermediate plate 17, which engages upon the top surface of the bottom plate, has a rentral hole 28 of a diameter equal to the larger diameter of the annular groove 20, so as to expose the semi-annular electrodes 26. The top plate 18 which engages upon the top surface of the intermediate plate 17, has

a central hole 29 and in the bottom surface or" said plate about said hole is provided an annular recess 30. Through the hole 29 exprongs 34 below said flange, confine a winv ClO\V"35, D-tl1'e form of a disc of mica, which closes the open top end of said cage. This cage, together with the hole 28 in the intermediate disc 17, provide an air chamber 36 (see Fig. 3) above the electrode points 26 and for the purpose of permitting a circulation of air into and out of said chamber, there-is formed in the body of the cage, intermediate its ends, a plurality of holes The construction above described is assembled as follows: Two electrode members 23 are placed in the grooves 202l and recess 22 of the bottomplate 16, with the electrode points 26 spaced apart in the groove 20 to define the diametrically opposite twin spark gaps. The intermediate plate 17 is then superposed upon the top surface of the bottom plate, thus securing the electrodes in place. A cage 31 with its mica window in place, is inserted through the hole 29 in the top plate 1.8, from theunderside thereof, with the bottom flange 32 seating sung in the recess 30, and this top plate is then superposed on the top surface of the interme- (liate plate, which insulates the electrodes from the cage. The peripheries of all plates are brought to coincide, this making the holes in the rounded extensions of said plates, all align after which the eyelets 19' are inserted through said aligning holes and the projecting ends thereof then upset to securely-attach all parts together in their proper relation. The eyelets 19 also act to provide-the terminals for said electrodes.

To attach one of the intensifiers to an ignition orspark plug 40, as shown in Fig. l, the thumb nut 41 thereot is first removed from the centerelectrode 42 of said spark plug. The intensifier is then placed on the plug with the center electrode projecting through one of the tubular rivets 19, of the intensifier after which the thumb nut ll replac d to lock said intensifier in place. bolt 43 is then placed in the other eyelet and a nut l l applied to attach one end of a current-conducting wire 45 to said eyelet as shown in Fig. 1. As is apparent, the current at intervals, governed by a suitable timing'mechanism, will pass through the wire 45 to one eyelet and then to one of the electrodes 23, jumping the twin gaps 27 to thepther electrode, thereby producing twin spark between said electrode ends, after which the current will pass to the other eyelet and then to center electrode of the spark plug to ump the gap to the other elcctrode of the spark plug and produce the spark for the ignition of the explosive mixture in the engine cylinder to which the spark plug is attached.

is the spark jumps the gap 27, between the twin electrode points 26 in the air chamleer 36, the flame or flash as it may be called, burns in a mixture composed ofthe material elements of air, that is, ether and oxygen, transforming the ordinary dull, red flame into an intensely hot, blue-white flash, thus intensifying the spark in the chamber 36 which intensified spark is reproduced at the electrodes of the spark plug. This bluewhite flash is so. hot that it burns off a'ny carbon that tends to form on the electrodes of the plug and instantly ignites the mixture in the engine cylinder, even though the same has been produced from a low gravity fuel. Thus the spark plug is kept free from any matter that retards an eflicient ignition, making starting of the engine easier and gives a maximum of efiiciency of the engine at all speeds. I

The intensified spark at the spark plug, amply overcomes the retardation or smothering developed by the resistance of compression under heavy loads, so that no excessive strain or knocks are imparted to the engine. It will cause the firing of bad spark plugs and decreases the amperage of the ignition system thereby eliminating an overload on a magneto or battery. Again, it affords an inspection of the firing of the plugs, which may be I determined by looking through the window in the cage and while air may enter said chamber to provide the necessary atmosphere for the proper sparking across the gap of the electrodes in Said chamber, the sparks cannot pass through the holes in the cage to ignite such vapors or gasoline leaks as may arise beneath the hood of automobiles. It is therefore safe in. use.

Vhile in describing my invention, I have referred to certain details of form, mechanical construction and arrangements of parts, I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the kind described comprising, a base of insulation having a chamher therein, electrodes fixed in said base, said electrodesbeing formed andspaced toprovide a multiple gap between them in said chamber, a perforated cage secured in said base and forming a continuation of said 5 chamber, and terminals'in said base connected to said electrodes.

2. A device of the kind described comprising, a plate of insulation, two electrodes embedded in said plate, said'electrodes ina window and air openings, means for securing sald cage in place, and terminals for said electrodes fixed in said plate.

3. A device of the kind described comprising, a base consisting of a plurality of superposed plates of insulation, the bottom plate having in its top surface, a central annular groove and longitudinal grooves opening into the central groove, an electrode in each longitudinal groove having bifurcated ends located in said annular groove and spaced to provide twin gaps, a top plate having an opening to expose said gaps, a perforated cage secured in said opening and insulated from said electrodes, a window for said cage, and means for securing said plates together, said means having contact with and providing terminals for said electrodes.

4. A device of the kind described comprising, a base consisting of a plurality of superposed plates of insulation having apertured extensions, the bottom plate having in its top surface, a central annular groove, recesses about the holes in its extensions, and longitudinal grooves connecting the central groove with said recesses, two electrodes each having bifurcated arcuate arms, an intermediate body and an annular head, which seat in said annular groove, said longitudinal grooves and said recesses respectively, said bifurcated arms being spaced to provide twin gaps at their ends, a top plate having an opening above said spark gaps, a cage fixed in said opening and insulated from said electrodes, and means securing said plates together, said means having contact with and providing terminals for said electrodes.

5. A device of the kind described comprising, a top, an intermediate and bottom plate, all made of insulation and having smaller apertured extensions, the bottom plate having in its top surface, a central annular groove, recesses about the holes in its extensions, and longitudinal grooves connecting the central groove with said recesses, two electrodes each having bifurcated arcuate arms, an intermediate'body and an annular head which seat in said annular groove, said longitudinal grooves and said recesses respectively, the bifurcated arms being spaced to provide twin gaps at their ends in the annular groove, the intermediate plate having a central hole which exposes said twin gaps, the top plate having a central hole, an apertured cage including a window fixed in the hole in the top plate and forming with the hole in the intermediate plate an air chamber, and eyelets passing through the holes in the extensions and attaching said plates together, said eyelets engaging with said annular heads of the electrodes and providing terminals therefor.

6. A spark plug intensifier including a pair of electrodes having concave recesses at their meeting ends, and having pairs of points at opposite sides of the recesses for forming a double spark gap, insulating pieces above and below said electrodes, and means for covering the electrodes from above and permitting inspection of the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aflix my signature in the resence of two witnesses, this 17th day of l ovember, A. D., 1919.

HARRY E. MURRAY.

WVitnesses:

T. H. ALFIEDS, EDITH A. BREEZE. 

